Dashes

Some random thoughts before the weekend.

-- "The Upside of Anger," which both Brian and Jude have seen and not liked/hated because of its "twist" ending (among other things), isn't bad at all. It stars Joan Allen, Kevin Costner, and four other actresses who play Allen's daughters. There's been a little debate about what the main storyline is or should have been -- Allen and Costner or Allen and her daughters. It's, well, both. When the movie sticks to Allen, it works, when it veers off into other side characters like the bungee jumping boyfriend and the sleazy producer, it derails. Allen performs admirably for being given such an unlikeable, volatile character to play. And it's Costner's best performance in years. Writer-director Mike Binder also co-stars, and it's because it's his movie that his character wasn't axed. And no, the "twist" didn't bother me. We all knew something was up with the construction plans. The book-ending narration by the youngest daughter about "anger" is lame lame lame. But other than that, I didn't think it was too bad. Perhaps it benefitted from my low expectations. 3/5.

-- Erike Christensen, who plays one of the daugthers, looks like Lauren from "Laguna Beach." That show rules my life.

-- GMAT is scheduled for Sept. 17.

-- Been watching the second season of "Rescue Me" and plan to rent the first. Fun, versatile show.

-- I'd really like to see "The Aristocrats" and "Grizzly Man," but who wants to go Cambridge?

-- I'm stuck in the dreaded Friend Zone with Lori.

-- Rain rain go away.